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Police in the UK does not follow up on requests to retrieve iPhones from FindMyPhone because the GPS tracking isn't exact enough to find the correct appartment.

Police in the UK does not follow up on requests to retrieve iPhones from FindMyPhone because the GPS tracking isn't exact enough to find the correct appartment. So for stolen items, it is also useless.

phil21 5y ago
> So for stolen items, it is also useless. It's not. I've recovered my phone after it was stolen by simply showing up to the house it wandered off to the next morning. I've done this a number of times for friends (perhaps not really the brightest idea in retrospect) and you'd be surprised at how many folks simply apologize and hand it over when confronted. If they refuse, at least you tried. Plenty of folks will take matters into their own hands for a $1,000 device that may be a source of their livelihood. Not everyone can simply walk away from that and absorb the loss.
- dylan604 5y ago
  I wonder what the %s are of people that lose a device and do not immediately lock it? Is there a large enough market for buying stolen phones that are locked to make them useable again? Do these people expect to extort a finder's fee? I just don't think "criminal" enough to understand the value of a stolen phone. > Plenty of folks will take matters into their own hands for a $1,000 device I was once mugged at gun point and the 2 guys took my wallet/cash/phone. For some stupid reason, I thought it a good idea to kindly ask for my wallet and phone back by convincing them the phone was several generations older, it would be locked as soon as I returned home, as well as any cards in my wallet being canceled. Also, just to avoid the pain in the ass of dealing with the banks and not going to the DMV for a new ID. The 2 guys laughed, and gave me everything back except the cash. To this day, I don't know what made me think that was going to happen. However, as soon as I turned the corner, I was on the phone with 911.
  - el-salvador 5y ago
    > I thought it a good idea to kindly ask for my wallet and phone back by convincing them the phone was several generations older, it would be locked as soon as I returned home. About a decade ago when El Salvador was more dangerous, cell phone theft at gun point or knife point was more common. And well SIM cards used to be easier to remove from phones. So the "good thieves" would allow you to remove the sim card from the phone before stealing it from you. There were also times where the thief would be "pickier" than you, so if you had a very old or a damaged phone they would just give you your phone back after mugging you. Two tricks were faking an ugly phone while carrying without a battery cover and cover it with duct tape. Or carrying a hidden good phone and a visible old phone.
  - multjoy 5y ago
    Yes. I work on a busy robbery squad in London and iPhones are absolutely the target, whether they're locked or unlocked.
- yardstick 5y ago
  Where do you live? Seems crazy to me to know that many people with stolen phones- and I’m in London!
tyingq 5y ago
I would guess that since it's getting pinged by any/every iPhone that gets within ~10 meters, the AirTags are often more accurate, since "more samples". That probably doesn't help in all situations, but helps in a lot of them.
- dylan604 5y ago
  Possibly even by the criminals own devices. It's kind of genius
mintone 5y ago
This is partially correct but depends on presentation - I tracked a phone to a house, they said they couldn't help because it wasn't accurate enough, I said I was going to knock on the door and demand it back, they turned up in ~3 minutes and recovered it for me, arresting the person who had it at the same time. Because I presented it as "I am going to put myself in danger to recover this item" they were duty bound to act. Still didn't help much as it was held as evidence for literally months.

phil21 5y ago

> So for stolen items, it is also useless. It's not. I've recovered my phone after it was stolen by simply showing up to the house it wandered off to the next morning. I've done this a number of times for friends (perhaps not really the brightest idea in retrospect) and you'd be surprised at how many folks simply apologize and hand it over when confronted. If they refuse, at least you tried. Plenty of folks will take matters into their own hands for a $1,000 device that may be a source of their livelihood. Not everyone can simply walk away from that and absorb the loss.

dylan604 5y ago
I wonder what the %s are of people that lose a device and do not immediately lock it? Is there a large enough market for buying stolen phones that are locked to make them useable again? Do these people expect to extort a finder's fee? I just don't think "criminal" enough to understand the value of a stolen phone. > Plenty of folks will take matters into their own hands for a $1,000 device I was once mugged at gun point and the 2 guys took my wallet/cash/phone. For some stupid reason, I thought it a good idea to kindly ask for my wallet and phone back by convincing them the phone was several generations older, it would be locked as soon as I returned home, as well as any cards in my wallet being canceled. Also, just to avoid the pain in the ass of dealing with the banks and not going to the DMV for a new ID. The 2 guys laughed, and gave me everything back except the cash. To this day, I don't know what made me think that was going to happen. However, as soon as I turned the corner, I was on the phone with 911.
- el-salvador 5y ago
  > I thought it a good idea to kindly ask for my wallet and phone back by convincing them the phone was several generations older, it would be locked as soon as I returned home. About a decade ago when El Salvador was more dangerous, cell phone theft at gun point or knife point was more common. And well SIM cards used to be easier to remove from phones. So the "good thieves" would allow you to remove the sim card from the phone before stealing it from you. There were also times where the thief would be "pickier" than you, so if you had a very old or a damaged phone they would just give you your phone back after mugging you. Two tricks were faking an ugly phone while carrying without a battery cover and cover it with duct tape. Or carrying a hidden good phone and a visible old phone.
- multjoy 5y ago
  Yes. I work on a busy robbery squad in London and iPhones are absolutely the target, whether they're locked or unlocked.
yardstick 5y ago
Where do you live? Seems crazy to me to know that many people with stolen phones- and I’m in London!

tyingq 5y ago

I would guess that since it's getting pinged by any/every iPhone that gets within ~10 meters, the AirTags are often more accurate, since "more samples". That probably doesn't help in all situations, but helps in a lot of them.

dylan604 5y ago
Possibly even by the criminals own devices. It's kind of genius

mintone 5y ago

This is partially correct but depends on presentation - I tracked a phone to a house, they said they couldn't help because it wasn't accurate enough, I said I was going to knock on the door and demand it back, they turned up in ~3 minutes and recovered it for me, arresting the person who had it at the same time. Because I presented it as "I am going to put myself in danger to recover this item" they were duty bound to act. Still didn't help much as it was held as evidence for literally months.